Cutler To Have Pins Removed, Not Likely To Play
(CBS) Bears coach Lovie Smith said Jay Cutler will have the pins removed from his throwing hand Tuesday, but don't count on the quarterback playing in Sunday's finale against the Vikings.
Smith wouldn't say if Cutler would practice this week, but also said he won't hold Cutler and injured running back Matt Forte back from playing if they want to.
"If they are healthy and ready to go, we won't tell them no," Smith said Monday. "Never would stop a player that wanted to play that was healthy and ready to go and I don't know if that will be the case."
That said, Smith talked as if Josh McCown was his starting quarterback and even called his performance in Sunday night's loss to the Packers "impressive."
"We want to see (McCown) have an opportunity to come back and play again this coming week," Smith said. "You normally can find a spot for a player that played the way he played last night."
With the Bears officially eliminated from playoff contention, it wouldn't make much sense to play either Cutler or Forte this week.
